In my StrideBox I am able to be exposed to new products including gels, chews, hydration mixes, bars, you name it. Also, who doesn't love mail...not just regular mail but a monthly package! They are always so nicely put together, wrapped in tissue paper and with a sticker in each. That's a topic in and of itself as I cannot decide what to do with my growing sticker collection. I want to put them somewhere special but haven't decided that special location yet. I've considered my laptop, helmet, waterbottles, notebooks etc and have reasons against them all.
The REAL exciting news came this week when I received an email that I'd been selected to be a StrideBox Ambassador. I'm still not overly sure of the parameters of the role, but will happily represent a company I love! So expect a monthly review from me of each StrideBox. They will improve with better pictures as I go :)
Also I need to mention I LOVED February's box. It may just be my favourite to date.
Drink Mix: There were three! Skratch Apples+Cinnamon and Chike High Protein Coffee Mix and a Nuun Tablet.
Chike Coffee Mix:
I didn't try this one right away. I am not entirely sure why. I drank it this morning and mixed it with the 10 ounces recommended of water. You can choose water or milk. My water wasn't overly cold and I think had it been cold with ice it would have been more enjoyable. The taste was good- I am a big fan of cold coffee drinks. But I don't think I should have drank it as my morning coffee (aka my battery for the day) as it didn't sit nicely in my stomach. This would have been nicer consumed in an afternoon. I find it strange to believe that coffee can be a high protein drink. I should have had it after today's 12km run, not before. lesson learned. This is a product I would consume again!
I love Skratch Labs products as much as I love StrideBox. It is a company I would absolutely represent. Skratch is all natural made from real products. Compared to all other drink mixes I've tried it is hands down my favourite in taste, texture etc. I like that the packages aren't huge like some drink packages and that the ingredients are real foods. Skratch Labs is a company I learned about through StrideBox last summer and immediately went out and purchased a large package of their Raspberry Hydration Mix. So I was overjoyed to try another Skratch product and intrigued that this one could be consumed as a hot beverage.
Need I remind you I live in Canada. In Canada it's cold. This winter has seemed especially cold. Most of my runs have been on the treadmill as I had a bit of a fall earlier this winter and didn't enjoy it. But I find I am always cold. I love a nice warm drink to warm up and the Apples+Cinnamon drink mix did not disappoint! The flavour was not overpowering, it was just right. I wanted to purchase a full bag of this as well but due to packaging changes it wasn't yet available in canadian stores. So when it is conveniently available again I will purchase a bag. I also have to mention that SkratchLabs as a company are awesome and responded to my tweets about trying to find a distributor right away, on a saturday! I can't say enough how much I love all things SkratchLabs and how I wish I could afford one of everything that they sell.
Nuun Tri-Berry
I am sorry to say I am not crazy about Nuun. I was excited to try it as I see a lot of Instagram friends that absolutely love it as a product. I've tried a few different flavours now at races and through StrideBox and it just doesn't appeal to me. It seems to taste carbonated and fizzy with a lack of taste. Carbonated beverages are not what I want to hydrate with when I am working out. I am sorry Nuun.Protein Bar: Picky Bars
I have always wanted to try Picky Bars. I love Oiselle and follow Lauren Fleshman's every move on Instagram. Again, as a Canadian I don't have affordable or easy access to these products so I was SO excited to see this in the February StrideBox. So excited that I instantly tore into it and consumed it right away. Naturally it was delicious and not heavy in my stomach. It didn't taste mealy like protein bars often do. This here is a picture of an empty wrapper- that's how fast I ate it. An empty wrapper that I've kept, might I add. I just love these small companies that use real products, that personalize their products and put their heart and sole into them. StrideBox, Picky Bars and SkratchLabs all fit that bill in my mind. Hard-goods: iGloves and Joshua Tree Lip Balm
iGlove
I have a few pairs of running gloves. I have anywhere from the 88cent thin gloves to more expensive brand name gloves. I was excited to receive these for many purposes. Who doesn't love the ability to use smart technology without having to take off their mitts? My hands are always cold so this is especially appealing to me. I also thought of the excitement of being able to wear these under my mitts when skiing for again the purpose of being able to use my phone without having to have bare exposed skin (even if my iphone seems to consistently freeze when I go skiing). I got the grey pair which is slightly disappointing considering all the colours available. But I wore them on today's run and they worked like a charm! It was a brainstorming run with a friend as we are planning a fundraiser run in the spring so I had to keep pausing my watch, pulling out my phone and snapping pics of potential areas of interest. Not once did I have to take off my gloves. They aren't made for -20C temperatures by any means, but neither am I.Joshua Tree Lip Balm: Healing Mint
Gel: Chia Surge
So February's StrideBox comes in as a huge positive with 6 products of 7 I enjoyed, 4 that I absolutely LOVED! I am excited as I've already been notified that my March box is in the mail. Now it's the waiting game of checking the mail daily and avoiding social media lest someone ruin the surprise of what's in the next package. Stay tuned!
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